Labour Party’s Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has expressed doubts over the durability of the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that internal rivalries could derail the alliance.

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has raised concerns over the stability of the opposition coalition being formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Baba-Ahmed questioned what would happen if prominent contenders like Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, or Chibuike Amaechi failed to secure the coalition's sole presidential ticket under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“We should not be swept away by this coalition,” he cautioned. “You have key players, Peter Obi, Amaechi, Atiku, and maybe Nasir El-Rufai, coming from diverse backgrounds with different interests.”

He highlighted the unique challenge posed by the fact that the three front-runners, Obi, Atiku, and Amaechi, are all strong candidates with a close following, which could lead to serious friction during and after the selection process.

 “What will the aftermath of this contest be? That’s why I referred to the Buhari case, he was a distant outlier who eventually emerged. But these three are very close. If one wins, will the other two remain committed to the coalition?” he asked.

The coalition, which has formally adopted the ADC as its political platform for the 2027 presidential race, includes several prominent political heavyweights:

Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party; Atiku Abubakar, Former Vice President; Chibuike Amaechi, Former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation; Nasir El-Rufai, Former Governor of Kaduna State; David Mark, Former Senate President.

While the coalition is seen as a bold attempt to unite Nigeria’s fragmented opposition, Baba-Ahmed’s remarks serve as a reminder that internal unity and shared ambition will be critical to its success.